The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I had some venison bones in the freezer that I was going to make into soup stock. They had a little meat on some of them so I put some out in the run to see if they might be able to get some of the meat off them.

Did that about 2 weeks ago. They could get some off, but it was more frustrating for them as it was hard to come off. I removed the bones at the end of the day but I missed one...

To this day, I still see the chickens carrying one of those bones around like a little puppy. It's as though they are starving for animal protein.

 

[lalaland]

lala -
Can you list some of the old poultry guides that you've read, own, etc.? I used to have a list that I wanted to eventually read or skim through...maybe I can find it again. But if you have any that you liked please list them.

Also - anyone else that has any of the OLD classics (meaning - way back when chickens were still being given meat and bone meal...before the marketing of soybeans).

I'll dig them up this evening, I only own a few, most I have read online.

 

[delisha]

Quote: wooo hoo..glad you are starting the process. it takes a little while. The doner is a friend. A different doner than the first one.

Just called the local butcher and found out that they keep back parts of beef liver that are considered "too tough" for their customers. I'll be getting it for .50/lb

That's FIFTY CENTS a lb.!!!!

They also have what they call "bone dust" from their meat saws. It collects in the saw and is a mixture of bone dust (like saw dust) and meat that they mix together with the meat that is in the head of the grinders. The meat in the grinder heads can only be thrown out or repurposed into animal feed. I'm going to take a look at that also, for .50 lb.

score!! they sell it here for dog treats and market it that way..They do not sell it at much of a discount.

Yesterday when I let our cockerels out to range around the yard, they honed in on the one tansy plant we have in the garden and took their dust bath under it. I have to wonder if it's because of it's bug-repellent properties. Has anyone else noticed this attraction to tansy?

They will use what plants they know will work. I do not have tansy and need some.

 

[lalaland]

First snow last night.

Thankfully, it is my wed off so I am home, because the first snow is always terrifying for the chickens. Not just the pullets who have never seen snow, but the oldtimers too.

Spent an enjoyable hour coaxing chickens out of the coop.

Lots of flyers, so I was retrieving chickens who started flying out the coop and then couldn't figure out where to land because of all the white. Ended up everywhere, on shed roofs, on fences, etc. They stay perfectly still once they land until I go and get them.

I have one still stuck in a pine tree: seaquist - she is about 16 feet up and has been there for almost two hours.



Buster didn't get far, but he stayed in this position for about a half hour before I rescued him - he was afraid to move!

 

[lindz8504]

First snow last night.

Thankfully, it is my wed off so I am home, because the first snow is always terrifying for the chickens. Not just the pullets who have never seen snow, but the oldtimers too.

Spent an enjoyable hour coaxing chickens out of the coop.

Lots of flyers, so I was retrieving chickens who started flying out the coop and then couldn't figure out where to land because of all the white. Ended up everywhere, on shed roofs, on fences, etc. They stay perfectly still once they land until I go and get them.

I have one still stuck in a pine tree: seaquist - she is about 16 feet up and has been there for almost two hours.



Buster didn't get far, but he stayed in this position for about a half hour before I rescued him - he was afraid to move!

Aww! Poor chickies!

 

[delisha]

lol...I love first snow for the birds..it is entertaining for............................. me.

 

[aoxa]

lol...I love first snow for the birds..it is entertaining for............................. me.

Same here. I remember the first year my cochin saw snow. The only time she ever let me pick her up. She HATED the snow.

I also remember posing them for pictures and they wouldn't move a muscle. So if you have a crappy camera that blurs when you take pictures because they are always moving - try it when you get snow!

Pictures from my first winter

Of course Penny went out. She was daring.


They did everything/anything to keep their feet away from the snow.


Nope.


Pure hatred right there.

Actually this was the best winter I ever remember. We hardly got any snow. I may have shovelled my driveway once... Craziness!! The next winter was TERRIBLE.


Seriously....??

hhehehe... Poor chickens.

 

[aoxa]

One more... Honey. I miss her.

 

[armorfirelady]

Just called the local butcher and found out that they keep back parts of beef liver that are considered "too tough" for their customers. I'll be getting it for .50/lb

That's FIFTY CENTS a lb.!!!!

They also have what they call "bone dust" from their meat saws. It collects in the saw and is a mixture of bone dust (like saw dust) and meat that they mix together with the meat that is in the head of the grinders. The meat in the grinder heads can only be thrown out or repurposed into animal feed. I'm going to take a look at that also, for .50 lb.

Thats awesome. We dont have many real butchers here except in the grocery stores. Tho this reminds me I need to stock up on livers & hearts for the hens. Their molting is taking FOREVER it seems......I want to give them more and see if it helps them molt faster. It took Red 3 months to finish her molt & she still is not laying

lala -
Can you list some of the old poultry guides that you've read, own, etc.? I used to have a list that I wanted to eventually read or skim through...maybe I can find it again. But if you have any that you liked please list them.

Also - anyone else that has any of the OLD classics (meaning - way back when chickens were still being given meat and bone meal...before the marketing of soybeans).

X2 please

I had some venison bones in the freezer that I was going to make into soup stock. They had a little meat on some of them so I put some out in the run to see if they might be able to get some of the meat off them.

Did that about 2 weeks ago. They could get some off, but it was more frustrating for them as it was hard to come off. I removed the bones at the end of the day but I missed one...

To this day, I still see the chickens carrying one of those bones around like a little puppy. It's as though they are starving for animal protein.

When my guys get turkey carcasses or chicken bones they run around with them as well. I toss them in the compost when they are done and they still pick at them. I wish I could get a picture of them doing it but I am usually laughing to hard

First snow last night.

I bet when she gets hungry she will come down.

Reminds me of a cat when they get stuck in a tree & cant remember how to get down. P.S. you can keep the snow there.........its almost 60 today & it can stay like that till Christmas

lol...I love first snow for the birds..it is entertaining for............................. me.

For me as well. Last year was quite amusing for me being the first winter with chickens. I am curious to see how the tots do this winter & whether the 2 BCMs with the feathered feet are more daring than the others. I plan on feeding them outside as long as I can. So if there is snow & they want to eat they will need to venture into the snow. I think Stella will be motivated by hunger. She is the first to the food bowl

 

[delisha]

Books:


Feeding Chickens: Hauser

Lamon wrote a ton of books..I believe he showed chickens in the 50's
He wrote about every thing,..he has many books published
how to breed them..how to select them..how to look at them..etc